But I'm not alive until you call

[milieus]

Who| Jennifer Blackwood & Open
What| Open office hours with your friendly neighborhood Capitol liaison.
Where| Jennifer's office at the Tribute Center.
When| After the mini-arena.
Warnings/Notes| ???

Jennifer's office is tastefully appointed and kept tidy as always, with fresh red roses in a vase on her desk, placed beside the framed photograph of her husband, Arturas. The stack of files on her desk are kept in a neat pile, with Punchy's file sitting plainly at the top. It's clear that she's been quite busy, updating, reorganizing, keeping on top of the changes around the Tribute Center.

But Jennifer isn't in at the moment. She's been called out briefly, but is expected to return at any moment. The Avoxes that tend to her needs indicate that any visitors she may have should wait for her in the office at one of the chairs adjacent to her desk. One Avox arrives with a tray of tea, another with some light snacks, though they soon depart, leaving the guest alone for a minute or so before Jennifer's arrival.

Comments

[medecin]

They would, at that. Joly could see the benefits of being well liked, and perhaps, even, popular. Besides helping to difuse his friends' actions and hide the rest of them in plain sight, in his way, he may also gain a better standing with potential sponsors, and well, there was a lot to be said for having people trust you.

It was starting to seem, as time went on, less like the people in the Capitol itself were cruel and unjust, but that they had been conditioned to their way of thinking. It was a disservice to them too, and while Joly could not like them for their ignorance while children starved in the outer districts, and did not even have proper doctors, he felt a bit sorry for them all the same. It would do well to fully understand them, and what had made them that way, to gain their trust enough that he could know them, and this was a way to do those things.

For now, he smiled at Jennifer, nodding as she spoke. "I would certainly like that, yes. Much better that we work together to be happy, all of us here, instead of inserting ways to drive ourselves apart. In Paris it was different, and our government harmed many people. I have had a hard time distancing myself from that life, even in a world where things are so drastically different. I have not been fair to the Capitol, I think. I would like very much to change that, as I may. It takes us all doing our parts, doesn't it?"

[milieus]

How wonderful it was, to see someone come around to reason. It was heartwarming, really, to think that reformation was possible. And if it was possible within a man, why could it not succeed within an entire system? Jennifer looked pleased just thinking about it.

"It does, truly." She wondered then, if he couldn't be used in some sort of propaganda mission. "I'd be willing to pull some strings to help you get the medical training you'd need to become a doctor here, if you'd be willing to serve the Capitol in some capacity..."

[medecin]

Joly had not considered the idea that this might be disheartening for people, or that it might give the Capitol any room to set things up in such a way or he might have reconsidered. Might have. After all, he was fairly certain, still, that several of his friends, if they knew the details, would think that it was a good idea. And, too, it was a chance to do some pretty amazing things if he was able to become privy to details. Worth the risk, certainly, and it gave Joly a great place to hide in during the meantime, now didn't it?

A moment passed, in which he thought about Venus and how she might react, but he was pushing onwards anyway, deciding that she, after all, had learned plenty about playing to a crowd. This was but another version of that sort of event, yes? Either to get information, or protect his friends from a place in someone's favor, he could live with himself making this decision, certainly.

"Would you, indeed?" There was something, certainly. "I...that would be wonderful. I've missed being able to help others so much. But yes, I certainly would be willing to help...to serve, however I can."

The words felt, and tasted wrong, coming out of his mouth, but Joly was good enough at acting by now that all he did was smile instead. It was a step. If he could find the others later, before anything happened, he'd explain himself. Until then, at least he would know the truth, and honestly, a lot of his skills were those he'd have used for Capitolians and Rebels and other Tributes alike regardless.

"I am not certain what you, or anyone, may have in mind, but please, consider me a volunteer and all of my skills at your disposal."

[milieus]

"That is precisely what I wanted to hear," Jennifer cooed, hands folding neatly on her desk. "You'll have so many opportunities now, once that otherwise could not have been afforded you. I'm sure you'll soon recognize that working with us and improving the system from within is always much more beneficial than trying to dismantle things." She paused, as if she might need to guard herself. "Allow me a few days and I'll see about getting you in contact with some of our specialists to get your credentials in order."

[medecin]

"Of course!"

Joly agreed, and, admittedly, there was a part of him that considered the opportunities to help others as he studied as worth some of what he might have to do to keep up the subterfuge. He would have to walk a careful line, but along the way, surely, he could help someone and it might make up a little for proclamations and the like that he might have to do. Easing pain, maybe finding out information to be used, getting known. They could all only serve as places of influence, right?

"I would be glad to do that, and to help wherever I might."

If he felt a little sick at himself agreeing to this, he ignored that for now, for once. There was obviously a very really immediate cause for it, after all.

[milieus]

"Splendid." She rose from her desk then, considering the matter quite settled. She would certainly have her work cut out for her, but then again, she did relish the distraction that work provided her. "Now, was there anything else you needed?"

[medecin]

Joly smiled as he stood as well.

"That was about all of it. And thank you. I look forward to being of use."

He did, actually, so that part was not quite a lie. He did not, after all, have to disclose the reasons why, and he did quite like Jennifer besides. Under different circumstances, they could have been friends. As it was, he was determined to be friendly. It was something anyway, he decided as he headed for the door himself.

So far, so good, right?